Steve Preston was fresh out of pharmacy school when he got his first job at Falk's Pharmacy in 1975.

After falling in love with the local business that first opened its doors in 1918... Preston decided to take over the pharmacy.

"I love pharmacy. It's a unique business. You're customers become your friends and it's just a joy" says Preston.

Many of the employees at Falk's also enjoy being a part of a local business they have enjoyed their entire life.

"It was great to be able to play in the store as a kid and now as an adult to be able to work here," says Preston.

Since buying Falk's Pharmacy in Woodland, Preston has opened seven more retail stores and a long term care facility.

"We've just been picking up independent pharmacies as their owners retire," says Preston.

While acquiring all of these new facilities... Preston has been approached time and time again to sell out to big corporate chains.

But each time he has refused... because he says this could take a toll on the local economy.

"Locally owned businesses return about 68–percent of their revenues to the local economy versus a chain pharmacy at about 43–percent and the reason being is we use local lawyers, local accountants, and local businesses," says Preston.

Falk's pharmacy has already been in the hands of Preston for more than 30 years and he says that he is looking forward to what the future will bring.

Falk's Pharmacy employs 170 people.

Even though Preston says he has seen a slight decline in business... no layoffs have been made.